by Emily Canning-Dean
Reporter
Bedford -- Israel Zambrano had heard from a friend that Bedford might be a nice place to open his third Mexican restaurant, he thought he would check out the town.
"I have always preferred small towns over bigger cities," said Zambrano, who owns a Los Gallos Mexican Restaurant in Boardman, Ohio, and one in Virginia.
"It seems like people in smaller towns are a lot more supportive of small business owners," he said.
And when Zambrano began discussions with the owner of the former Gas Lite Inn, he was happy with the way he was received by the city.
"Everyone was very nice and welcoming me," Zambrano said.
Zambrano said he and the building's owner, John Fetsko, are finalizing details of the lease of the building, but he hopes to open the restaurant by late fall.
"I am going to remodel the inside and bring in new kitchen equipment," Zambrano said.
Economic Development Director Rebecca Corrigan said she thinks the restaurant deal looks promising.
Corrigan said it would be a plus for the city of Bedford to fill the vacant Gas Lite building, which has been empty since earlier this year.
"He has a very good reputation in Boardman, and I think his restaurant sounds very promising," Corrigan said.
Corrigan said the restaurant would start out with six employees and would seat about 80 people.
She said plans indicate that the Gas Lite's liquor license would transfer to Los Gallos.
Zambrano said the restaurant would be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
He also said the restaurant would serve traditional Mexican fare in addition to steak and seafood.
RPC Photo / Mike Lesko
A sign indicates that Los Gallos Mexican Restaurant could open in the former Gas Lite Inn building in downtown Bedford.